Well pumping system



Oct. 12, 1948.

Filed Aug. 3, 1945 H. E. LAUMAN 2,451,168

WELL PUMPING SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 12, 1948. H. E. LAUMAN 2,451,168

WELL PUMPING SYSTEM Patented Oei. la, 194s 2,451.1 wmrumrmc srs'rns! nsmsn E. Lamas. Gassen city, N. Y. Application .ai-gut s, fists, sensi No. 497,221

'I'his invention relates to anv improvement in well pumping system of the character adapted particularly for the pumping of water from artesian and drilled deep wells.

jAs is well-known when a tube is inserted in water and the atmospheric pressure removed within the tube, the water will rise in the tube to a height greater than twenty feet, depending upon the elevation above sea level of the water table and other factors. A suction pump when set above the water level from which the water is taken. operates on this principle, removing the air from the suction tube, creating a vacuum within this tube. The atmospheric pressure bearing down on the water table will cause the water to rise within the tube in proportion to the suction thus created by the pump.

The purpose of the pump is to lift the water vfrom the pumping level in the well to its ultimate desired elevation, which is frequently a considerable height 'above the ground level. The capacity and effectiveness of the pump depend upon its ability to create a suflicient dynamic head to force the water to the desired elevation. The position of the pump below the static water level affects its pumping capacity because of the atmospheric pressure acting on the static water leve1 tending to force it down on the outside of the pumping column as suction is created on the inside thereof.

Various'conditions encountered in the drilling of wells frequently make it impractical, if not actually impossible, to place the pump at a sufllcient depth below the static water level to provide the desired quantity of water for forcing to the desired elevation above the ground, according to pumping systems used heretofore. The position cf the water-bearing stratum may limit the depth of the pump below the surface of the ground. Where it must be placed at a substantial depth, even if permitted by the static water level, the increase of drilling cost. shafting, tubing and column pipe extension within the well,

s claim. (ci. ina-zia)- 2 ing at a point above the pump, which seal permits the pump to operate and cause a pumping action with the aid of' a partial vacuum. .This partial vacuum' will deliver the water to the pump through proper hydraulic laws from a hydraulic level below the pump at least feet greater than if the seal had not been applied. In a shallow well where it is mechanically impractical to place 'the pump at this lower level, the seal makes up for this deficiency andthereby increases the hydraulic capacity of the well by shutting oi! the atmospheric pressure from within the well casing itself. inducing a greater supply of water under atmospheric pressur to the suction side of the pump. The seal also proportionately decreases the cost of the shafting. tubing. and column pipe extension within the well. which more than oi!- sets the cost of the seal.

I'he invention is. directed also to a seal which will -operate in response to internal pressure within the pumping column-to seal the space beincrease materially the cost of the well, and yet have been necessary heretofore to provide a sumcient source for the purpose of lifting the water to the desired elevation.

The object of this invention is to improve the well pumping system by increasing the well capacity very materially, sometimes it has been found in practice Ito be nearly 100%. to augment the supply of water induced by atmospheric pressure to the suction side of the pump.

This object is accomplished -by sealing oil the space between the pumping column and the castween said column and the casting. This causes a sealing action above the pump only when needed durin'g the pumping operation, and thereafter allows the seal to be broken automatically to purge the space of air by allowing` it to leak out through the casing from around the pump. Accordingly, the seal is constructed preferably .of a hydraulically expansible packing sleeve adapted to seal againstthe inside of the well casing. and which sleeve is confined securely by being fastened to the periphery of the pump column, and having an internal chamber in open communication with the interior of the pump column. Thus, when water is forced through'the pumping column by the pump, the pressure thereof will act through the communicating openings on the interior of the sealing sleeve to expand the latter tightly against the inside of the well casing. This allows also for the automatic contraction of the sleeve when the pumping pressure is released.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through an artesian well, with the pumping system including the seal in side elevation; l

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the seal, somewhat enlarged; and

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view therethrough.

'I'he invention is shown as applied to an artesian well in which deep-well pumping equipment of well-known commercial form. is utilized for the pumping of water from a point below the static water level tothe desired elevation; This pumping 'equipment includes a motori combined the lower end o f thecasing 1 is provided. The

screen 8'surrounds and encloses the 'tailpiece 5.

This structure is enclosed within an outside casing 9 which extends downward from the well foundation l0 to a point adjacent the pumping level.

The static water level is at L, the pump being submerged to the desired or required extent therebelow. At thebottom of the well, surrounding the screen 8 is the developed 4area A, and a column of coarse granular material B extends upwardly from the developed area A between the vinside and outside casings 1 and 9 substantially to the-'water level L. The

space thereabove between the casings is substantially closed by a foot of coarse sand at C, above which is a lining of sand and wet .clay at D, extending upwardly between the casings to the well foundation IIJ.'

The pumping structure according to` this invention includes also a well seal designated generally by the numeral I2 in Fig. 1 and shown more in detail in Figs. 2'and 3. This seal surrounds the pump column 3 'between the latter and the casing 1, so as to seal off the space therebetween at a point preferably just above the pump 4. The seal I2 is placed also preferably below the static water level L so as to be submerged in the water within the casing. This helps to assure air tightness o'f the seal, and the effectiveness thereof.

As shown in Fig. 3, the seal is formed of a sealing sleeve I4, preferably ofelastic material, such as gum rubber, and of substantial thickness so as to be readily expansible under pressure. The sealing sleeve I4 is carried by a backing sleeve I5 which is preferably of heavy fabric or the like that will be expansible and to which the rubber sealing sleeve may be secured effectively. The sleeve I4 in normal condition will be of slightly smaller external diameter than the internal diameter of the casing 1 but is capable of expansion into tight sealing relation therewith.

The sealing sleeves I4l I5 are'secured to and designated generally' ing sleeve I4 against the inner wall of the casing 1, to seal the space betwen the pump column 3 andthe casing 1, whenever'the pump is functioning.

In operation, with the well constructed substantially as shown in Fig. 1, the-seal I2 is mounted as a part of the pumping apparatus'- surrounding the pump column 3 at a point above the centrifugal pump 4, preferably below the static water level and adjacent the pump. Then vupon roperationpf the pump in the usual manner of pumping water from the well, the 'water will be drawn in from the developed area A through the screen 8 and the lower end of the tailpiece 5,-to the pump 4. The pump will force the water upward through the pump column 3 "and discharge it through the rhead 2 and the i pipe 6 to the desired poin't of storage or use.

i tween the pump column 3 and the casing during the operation of the pump in forcingv Water This circulation of Water under pressure through the pump column 3 will cause it to be forced outward through the ports 2l into the chamber 20,*and there to act against the inner face of the yieldable sleeves I4, I5, to ,expand the latter against the inner surface of the welll casing 1. This will cause a sealing relation beupward through the pump'column.

Inasmuch as the interior of the casing is sealed `r olf above the pump, it is thus impossible for the pump to act first to draw out the waterrwithin the casing. Thus the suction created n the pump column will allow atmospheric pressure surrounding the casing to force the water through the screen and into the tailpiece more effectively than would be possible without the seal. The seal permits the pump to operate and cause a pumping action withthe aid of a partial vacuum. This partial vacuum will deliver the water to the pump through proper hydraulic laws from a hydraulic level below the pump,

at leasttwenty feet greater than if the seal had supported upon rings I6 that extend into opposite ends of the fabric sleeve I5, and which rings I6 are carried by flanges or rings I1 upon the periphery of the pumping column 3. These parts may be assembled by welding the rings I6 and flanges or rings I'I together and to the pumping column. To provide a tight joint between the fabric sleeve I5 and the rings I6, bands I8 encircle the opposite ends of the sleeve I5 and are clamped thereon by bolts I9 which extend through slightly elongated slots in the bands and opposite ends of the sleeve I5 and are threaded into the vrings I6.

This assembly holds the sleeves I4, I5 spaced from the periphery of the pump column 3, leaving a chamber 20 therebetween within the expansible sealing sleeve. This chamber 20 communicates through ports 2I with the interior of the pumpingcolumn, whereby fluid under pressureV forced through the column will be directed also through the ports 2l into the chamber 20 to apply expansive action t0 the Sal" not been applied. The seal thereby increases the hydraulic capacity of the wellvby shutting oil the atmospheric pressure from within the well casing itself. In some instances, it has been found in actual practice that the seal doubles the capacity of the well, appreciably increasing the amount of water produced from the well withA lated below the seal to leak out through the.

pump casing, thus purging the space around the pump of accumulated air.

Although the form of seal here described is I preferable, it will be understood that the mechanical construction .of the seal may be improved said sealing means including a resilient sleeve surrounding the pump column in position for bearing relation against the casing, rings sur- !Qllnding the pump column and rigidly xed thereto, means telescoped with opposite ends of the sleeve and securing said sleeve in sealed relation with the rings, said sleeve being spaced outwardly from the pump column forming a hydraullc chamber within the sleeve, said pump column having an opening through a side thereof to the chamber for admitting uld under the pressure of the pumping means into said chamber and in pressure relation against the sleeve to force the sleeve in sealing relation against the casing.

2. A well seal comprising a pump column adapted for iiow of liquid under pressure therethrough, a sleeve of resilient material surrounding the pump column in spaced relation therewith forming a chamber between said sleeve and the pump column, anges surrounding the pump column and rigidly xed thereto, rings xed to the iianges and extending into opposite ends of the sleeve, bands extending about opposite end portions of the sleeve and the rings, and screw fastenings extending through the bands, sleeve and rings for securing said parts rigidly together, said pump column having an opening through a side thereof into the chamber for admitting iluid into expanding action against the sleeve for forcing said sleeve into sealing relation against a casing.

3. In a well seal having a pump column adapted for ow of liquid under pressure therethrough, and means for sealing the space around the pump column, said sealing means including a resilient sleeve surrounding the pump column, rings surrounding the pump column and rigidly xed thereto, rings fixed to the first-mentioned rings REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,301-,597 Paulsmeier Apr. 22, 1919 1,501,951 Kennedy July 22, 1924 1,545,905 Klns July 14, 1925 1,604,644 Heyser Oct. 26, 1926 1,692,131 Martin Nov. 20, 1928 1,713,848 McAfee May 21, 1929 1,784,242 Melton Dec. 9, 1930 2,026,883 Gillespie Jan. 7, 1936 2,196,668 Ragan Apr..9, 1940 2,242,166 Bennett May 13, 1941 2,261,752 Buckner Nov. 4, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 448,662 Germany 1927 

